But she insisted any future coalition arrangement must be based "on policies and not personalities".

Ms Creighton refused to divulge how many seats the party hopes to win come election time, insisting this is "difficult to project".

"We're aiming to win the maximum possible. We're in the throes of selecting candidates at the moment," she said.

"It's very difficult to know exactly how things will go. We don't know when the election is going to be, but we're working to have candidates, hopefully, in every constituency."

Speaking to the Irish Independent, she stated that an almost impenetrable 'glass ceiling' still exists in the workplace and maintained the world of politics has yet to "move with the times", suggesting the lack of female representation has reached a "critical" level.

The 35-year-old also revealed her own unpredictable and long working hours pose many challenges for her at home.

"I'm a relatively new mum to an 18-month old and childcare, and the cost, is a nightmare," she added. "It's really difficult for women in all walks of life, particularly if you're self-employed, or in a high-pressure position, with no control over hours.

"It's difficult for young fathers, too. The gender balance is being redressed - but I think it still impacts more heavily on women than men."